Avast! South to Port! Perfect planning places new Memorial Bridge span spot on

Wednesday

Jan 16, 2013 at 3:15 AMJan 16, 2013 at 5:33 AM

By Andrea Bulfinchabulfinch@fosters.com

PORTSMOUTH — Waving to iron workers aboard the Cape Cod barge as the new south span of Memorial Bridge was navigated downriver, residents, bridge fans, and a slew of dignitaries witnessed the historic “float-in” a year after the first span was ceremoniously removed as part of a highly-anticipated, days-long “float-out” last February.

Just after 9 a.m., the south span was motored downriver via the Cape Cod barge, a familiar vessel to the project, and with the assistant of local tugboats, to its new spot at the Scott Avenue approach on the Portsmouth side of the bridge.

Stephen DelGrasso, senior project manager for Archer Western, said Tuesday morning was chosen to conduct the float-in because workers were ready with the span and the weather cooperated.

Weather played a big role in the float-out of the lift span last February with crews following and watching the tides and being challenged by cold and unforgiving temperatures.

Joining a pier packed with lingering landlubbers as the south span traveled down the Piscataqua River via a local flotilla, were Gov. Maggie Hassan, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Portsmouth Mayor Eric Spear, along with officials from New Hampshire and Maine DOT and Archer Western Contractors.

“It's gone very well,” DelGrasso said of Tuesday morning's effort. “There was a lot of planing to make it look this easy.”

With not much room to accomplish the maneuver, tugs were used to tweak and adjust the span as it was positioned into place shortly after 9 a.m.

“It's very exciting to see the first span going into place,” Shaheen said, proud that the steel used to construct the span is created by a company in Claremont.

Also exciting was the turnout of bridge-watchers who arrived to welcome the new piece of the bridge in place.

“It's had so much community support,” Shaheen said. She also noted the five-foot bike path and six-foot pedestrian walkway included in the design to accommodate all travelers and commuters within the community, both motorized and otherwise. She said the fact people will still be able to utilize the bridge that way is a great thing.

Portsmouth Mayor Eric Spear stood with Shaheen Tuesday morning at One Harbor Place to witness the span's arrival.

“It's definitely exciting. It's been a hard year,” he said, noting the bridge connecting the Portsmouth and Kittery communities with friends and businesses there is similar to something that isn't thought much about until it's gone.

The span was set onto the bearings at the Scott Avenue approach on the Portsmouth side of the bridge mid-afternoon. The Cape Cod was expected to get back to the state pier during slack tide around 10 p.m. Tuesday.

“We'll actually go out the same way we came in,” DelGrasso said.

To lower the span, which needed to come within a quarter inch of where it would be secured, the roughly 35 iron workers brought the 300-foot piece of steel down by about three feet an hour. Once that process was completed, welding to secure the span would begin.

On Thursday work will begin on the north span of the bridge. Steel for that portion of the project was expected to arrive from Claremont on Wednesday. The float-in for that structure is expected to be completed sometime in March.

Charlie Tyrrell likened the project to how he believes government should be run and took the opportunity to share his thoughts with Shaheen. So far, despite setbacks due to weather and tides, the Memorial Bridge project is still expected to be open to traffic in July.

“They're on a schedule and dedicated to getting a job done on time,” he said.

He said this project is a stark contrast to how government, especially the federal government actually operates.